Construction and description Hillsgrove Covered Bridge

bridge interior view (in 2015) showing burr arches , king posts, wooden beams bolted floor on each side wheel guards.

on july 2, 1973, hillsgrove bridge first covered bridge in sullivan county added nrhp, , on july 24, 1980 again included on nrhp in multiple property submission of 7 covered bridges of bradford, sullivan , lycoming counties. hillsgrove bridge on 2013 national bridge inventory (nbi), lists covered bridge 186 feet (56.7 m) long, maximum load of 5.0 short tons (4.5 t). however, maximum load posted on approaches bridge 3.0 short tons (2.7 t). 2006 nbi listed bridge s roadway 12 feet 2 inches (3.7 m) wide, while according nrhp, bridge s road surface width 18 feet (5.5 m), sufficient single lane of traffic.

as of 2015, each portal has sign posted clearance height of 8 feet (2.4 m). sign posted on east portal above clearance preserves following 19th-century limits on use: notice: persons forbidden ride drive or lead animal on bridge faster walk or drive more 15 head of cattle horses or mules thereon @ 1 time or carry fire thereon except in safe vessel under penalty of not less $.30 each offence. prior 2010 restoration, west portal had no trucks allowed sign hanging below clearance sign.

underside of bridge looking east, in 2012

the covered bridge rests on abutments of stone , mortar, have been reinforced concrete. there no parapets. bridge beams reinforced in places steel beams. bridge deck made of crosswise narrow width laid flooring . wheel guards on deck separate roadway pedestrian walkways on either side , protect sides, covered vertical board , batten siding eaves. interior , exterior painted red. bridge has long, narrow windows wooden shutters: south side has 3 windows, , north side has two. opening between eaves , siding runs length of bridge on both sides. gable roof wooden shake shingles. bridge supported burr arch truss, , similar in design , construction 1 in forksville. western end of hillsgrove bridge lies against steep hillside, , approaching bridge west must make sharp right turn enter it. prior 2010 restoration, sides unpainted, portals painted red, while gable roof sheet metal had been installed on original wooden shake shingles.

attitudes towards covered bridges in sullivan county changed considerably in last half of 20th century. 2 of 5 bridges remained in 1954 razed 1970, when pennsylvania department of transportation considered tearing down forksville bridge (but renovated because of historic nature , appeal tourists). hillsgrove covered bridge added nrhp in 1973 , 2 other bridges added in 1980. pennsylvania historical , museum commission forbids destruction of covered bridge on nrhp in state , has approve renovation work.